Healthier Hamburger Helper

Hamburger Helper may get a bad rap when it comes to good nutrition for families, but this classic boxed dinner can indeed be tweaked to be good for you. Check out our made-from-scratch version … it’s loaded with light and lean ingredients and a few nutritious kid-friendly veggies too! SPECIAL OFFER: SchoolFamily.com readers can purchase No Whine With Dinner at 30 percent off the list price, and get free shipping, by ordering the book here and using this promo code: FS2011.

Directions

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.

Raise the heat to medium-high. Add the meat, Italian seasoning, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook, breaking up the large pieces until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat.

Stir in the broth, tomato sauce, 3/4 cup of the milk, and the spinach, cover, and bring to a boil.

Stir in the pasta and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a low boil, covered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 9 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup milk until well combined. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the pasta. Maintain at a low boil and stir gently until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.